[LIST] 2026 ACM Awards’ Biggest Surprises & Snubs
on May 17, 2026
Most category winners at the ACM Awards were pretty much what fans expected, but, as usual, there were a few surprises.
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards took place Sunday night (May 17) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Shania Twain took over hosting duties, marking her first time in the role.
The three-hour live event was jam-packed with performances and award presentations recognizing industry accomplishments from the past year.
Megan Moroney dominated the nominations this year with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert, who had eight. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson earned an impressive seven nominations each.
For the guys, Chris Stapleton earned six nominations, with Zach Top and Cody Johnson followed with five each.
After the unprecedented success of “Choosin’ Texas,” Ella Langley was expected to sweep her categories, and fans were rooting for a Lainey Wilson three-peat in the Entertainer of the Year category. Find out below how these categories shook out, and learn about other surprises and snubs from the 2026 ACM Awards below.
1. Ella Langley Sweeps Her Categories and Makes History
Ella Langley won every award she was nominated for at the 61st ACM Awards. Her 7-trophy win put her in the history books as she surpassed the previous record of 6 wins in one night. Garth Brooks (1991), Faith Hill (1999), and Chris Stapleton (2016) were tied with five wins each until Langley’s impressive sweep.
Ella won in the following categories:
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Music Event of the Year (with Riley Green for “Don’t Mind If I Do”)
Single of the Year (as an artist and producer for “Choosin’ Texas”)
Song of the Year (as an artist and songwriter for “Choosin’ Texas”)
Female Artist of the Year
2. Parker McCollum Wins Album of the Year
Parker McCollum’s Album of the Year win was likely one of the biggest surprises of the night. His self-titled project was up against some heavy hitters like Zach Top (Ain’t In It For My Health), Riley Green (Don’t Mind If I Do – Deluxe), and Morgan Wallen (I’m The Problem). It was a well-deserved, though unexpected, win for McCollum.
3. Cody Johnson Dethrones Lainey Wilson for Entertainer of the Year
Cody Johnson took home his first ACM Entertainer of the Year win after a year marred by an ear injury. But, fans agree that it was a long-overdue honor for the singer who dethroned two-time winner and reigning Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson. Even his fellow nominees were happy for him, knowing that he was a worthy winner.
4. Brooks & Dunn Extend Their Records
Brooks & Dunn continue their streak as the most awarded duo in ACM Awards history. They earned their 32nd award on Sunday night. The win also extended their record for the most Duo of the Year category wins, bringing their total to 18, though they swear they don’t keep track of nominations and wins.
5. Ella Langley and Riley Green Tie A Faith Hill & Tim McGraw Record
Ella Langley & Riley Green took home trophies for Vocal Event of the Year for their song “Don’t Mind If I Do.” They also won the category last year for “You Look Like You Love Me.” Their 2026 win makes them only the second set of collaborators in history to win the category two consecutive years. The couple who first accomplished the feat was Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who won in 1998 (“It’s Your Love”) and 1999 (“Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me”).
RELATED: SEE THE CUTEST COUPLES AT THE 2026 ACM AWARDS
6. Megan Moroney Didn’t Receive Any Awards Despite Being The Most Nominated Artist
Megan Moroney earned a jaw-dropping nine nominations ahead of the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, and took home no wins. The 2024 New Female Artist of the Year has 15 career nominations and one win.
Moroney chose to skip the awards ceremony, despite having the most nominations. She shared on Instagram ahead of the ceremony that she was out of the country “on MOH (maid of honor) duty” for her best friend’s wedding.
